Final answer:
Muhammad is unique among religious founders as he is considered the final prophet in Islam, whose teachings are viewed not as a new religion but as a restored version of the original monotheistic faith, as documented in the Qur'an.
Step-by-step explanation:
Muhammad is unique among the founders of the world's religions in that he is the final prophet in a long list of prophets and not considered divine. He brought the message of Islam, emphasizing the worship of one God, Allah, which is also recognized in Judaism and Christianity. However, unlike the founders of other religions, Muhammad's central role was to deliver a message that was meant to correct and complete the divine revelations that had been given to earlier prophets, with his words being compiled into the Qur'an.
Muhammad's early life was mundane until he married Khadija, a wealthy widow, and began his career as a merchant. His interaction with Christians and Jews during his travels informed him about monotheism, and, at the age of 40, he began his prophetic mission. The turning point came when the archangel Gabriel revealed to him that he was to bear God's message. His teachings and the events in his life are documented in the hadiths and help to shed light on his insights and revelations.
Despite facing rejection and persecution in Mecca for his monotheistic message and its challenge to the polytheistic status quo, Muhammad's call for social responsibility and unity under one God eventually led to the formation of a new religious community. The hejira, his migration to Medina, marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar and is a pivotal moment in Islamic history. Muhammad's message of Islam is not seen as a new religion but as a restoration of the original monotheistic faith.